VOA慢速英語：墨西哥頭號毒梟將在紐約接受審判

United States officials are preparing to try a Mexican man who has been called the world’s most powerful drug trafficker.

Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, better known as “El Chapo,” will be tried in New York City.

Guzmán is the head of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel. Mexican officials have jailed him not once, but twice, at maximum security prisons. But he escaped both times.

Last month, Mexico sent Guzmán to New York, one of several American states in which he faces criminal charges.

Robert Capers is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He says Guzmán is responsible for much of the drug cocaine sold in the state.

“The continuing criminal enterprise charges that I will describe for you by itself attributes to Mr. Guzmán cocaine shipments of over 200 tons, which were supplied by some of Colombia’s most powerful drug-trafficking organizations, and links Guzmán to over seven and a half tons of cocaine and heroin that were seized in the United States, including four tons that were seized right here in this district.”

Paul Callan is a former prosecutor who represented the government in murder cases. He believes the Department of Justice chose to prosecute Guzmán in New York because it has a very strong case against him.

“New York is also well-accustomed to trying high-notoriety defendants. We have very secure courtroom facilities. We have secure jail facilities, and New York is used to handling the press and the kind of coverage that takes place in these high-profile cases.”

After he was told the charges against him in a U.S. federal court, Guzmán was sent to the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) near New York’s financial area.

The MCC is a high-security jail. It has held a number of notable criminals, including people who claim to belong to al-Qaida.

Selwyn Rabb worked as an investigative journalist at The New York Times newspaper. He has visited the MCC many times during his career as a reporter.

“He’s going to be monitored 24 hours a day. He’s not going to be able to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do anything without some eyes poking at him.”

Experts consider the MCC to be one of the most secure jails in the United States. Few people have escaped from the 12-floor tall building since it opened 42 years ago.

New Yorkers have mixed feelings about having Guzman jailed there.

Jean Young works in Lower Manhattan, near the MCC.

“Thank God that the federal building has a lot of checkpoints. And I know the street goes up at one point, and they go under the cars with mirrors, but I mean it’s the cartel -- if they want to get here, they’ll get here.”

Many people work or live near the prison, in New York’s TriBeCa neighborhood. Luke Valente says he likes the area.

“I have a lot of faith in the professionals that are working here and in the U.S. in general. I think considering what he’s done in the past, in places outside the U.S. as far as being in custody, I feel that much more safe and confident that they’ll be able to see his sentence through.”

I’m Bryan Lynn.

Ramon Taylor and Asli Pelit reported this story for VOANews.com from New York. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted their report for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.

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Words in This Story

cartel – n. a group of businesses that agree to fix prices so they all will make more money

maximum – adj. the highest number or amount that is possible or allowed — usually singular

enterprise – n. a project or activity that involves many people and that is often difficult

attribute – v. to say that (something) is because of (someone or something)

accustomed – adj. familiar with something so that it seems normal or usual (+ to)

facility – n. something (such as a building or large piece of equipment) that is built for a specific purpose

profile – adj. used to describe the amount of attention that someone or something is given

monitor – n. to watch, observe, listen to, or check (something) for a special purpose over a period of time

poke – v. to look around or search through something

checkpoint – n. a place where people, cars, etc., are searched by someone (such as a police officer) before being allowed to continue

mirror – n. a piece of glass that reflects images

United States officials are preparing to try a Mexican man who has been called the world’s most powerful drug trafficker.

美國政府目前準備審訊號稱世界最大毒梟的墨西哥男子。

Joaquín Archivaldo Guzmán Loera, better known as “El Chapo,” will be tried in New York City.

喬奎恩·古茲曼·萊瓦，綽號“矮子”，將在紐約審判。

Guzmán is the head of Mexico’s Sinaloa drug cartel. Mexican officials have jailed him not once, but twice, at maximum security prisons. But he escaped both times.

古茲曼是墨西哥錫那羅亞州販毒集團的頭號毒梟。墨西哥政府曾兩次對他進行逮捕，關(guān)在嚴密級別最高的監(jiān)獄。但是兩次都讓他逃脫。

Last month, Mexico sent Guzmán to New York, one of several American states in which he faces criminal charges.

上月，墨西哥政府將古茲曼遣送到紐約。這里是他面臨刑事控訴的美國地區(qū)之一。

Robert Capers is the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York. He says Guzmán is responsible for much of the drug cocaine sold in the state.

美國紐約東部侓師事務(wù)所的羅伯特·卡波斯表示，古茲曼需要承擔在紐約州販賣毒品可卡因的大部分罪行。

“The continuing criminal enterprise charges that I will describe for you by itself attributes to Mr. Guzmán cocaine shipments of over 200 tons, which were supplied by some of Colombia’s most powerful drug-trafficking organizations, and links Guzmán to over seven and a half tons of cocaine and heroin that were seized in the United States, including four tons that were seized right here in this district.”

“我能講述的是，古茲曼罪行滔天，查貨載有200噸可卡因的船只，這些可卡因都是由哥倫比亞一些有勢力的販毒集團供應，古茲曼在美國被逮捕時，還攜帶7.5噸可卡因和海洛因，其中有四噸毒品是在紐約查獲。”

Paul Callan is a former prosecutor who represented the government in murder cases. He believes the Department of Justice chose to prosecute Guzmán in New York because it has a very strong case against him.

美國刑事案件前執(zhí)行官保爾·卡倫相信，司法局之所以選擇在紐約審判古茲曼是因為在這里他還犯下了更罪惡的罪行。

“New York is also well-accustomed to trying high-notoriety defendants. We have very secure courtroom facilities. We have secure jail facilities, and New York is used to handling the press and the kind of coverage that takes place in these high-profile cases.”

“紐約以審判臭名昭著的犯罪分子而著稱。我們有極其安全的法庭設(shè)備。這里監(jiān)獄安全級別嚴密，紐約也能熟練處理媒體對這些關(guān)注度很高案件的報道。”

After he was told the charges against him in a U.S. federal court, Guzmán was sent to the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) near New York’s financial area.

古茲曼被告知在美國聯(lián)邦法庭開庭，他就被移交紐約金融區(qū)附近的都市勞改中心(MCC)

The MCC is a high-security jail. It has held a number of notable criminals, including people who claim to belong to al-Qaida.

MCC是安全級別較高的監(jiān)獄。這里關(guān)押了諸多臭名昭著的犯罪分子，還有一些基地組織成員。

Selwyn Rabb worked as an investigative journalist at The New York Times newspaper. He has visited the MCC many times during his career as a reporter.

塞爾文·拉比是《紐約時報》的現(xiàn)場調(diào)查員。他當記者期間出入過MCC多次。

“He’s going to be monitored 24 hours a day. He’s not going to be able to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do anything without some eyes poking at him.”

“古茲曼24小時時時受到監(jiān)控。去廁所、去沐浴或干其他的事都要受到監(jiān)控。”

Experts consider the MCC to be one of the most secure jails in the United States. Few people have escaped from the 12-floor tall building since it opened 42 years ago.

專家一致認為MCC是美國最安全的監(jiān)獄。42年來。很少有人能夠從這12層的監(jiān)獄中逃跑。

New Yorkers have mixed feelings about having Guzman jailed there.

紐約當?shù)鼐用駥牌澛P(guān)押在此意見紛紛。

Jean Young works in Lower Manhattan, near the MCC.

珍·揚在MCC附近的曼哈頓低部地區(qū)工作。

“Thank God that the federal building has a lot of checkpoints. And I know the street goes up at one point, and they go under the cars with mirrors, but I mean it’s the cartel -- if they want to get here, they’ll get here.”

“幸虧聯(lián)邦大廈有重重安檢。這條街一通到底，車上都裝有鏡子，警察們在鏡子底下來回穿梭。但是他們是毒梟集團，他們想去哪就能去哪。”

Many people work or live near the prison, in New York’s TriBeCa neighborhood. Luke Valente says he likes the area.

紐約 TriBeCa坐落在監(jiān)獄附近，這里還有好多居民。盧克·瓦倫說他很喜歡這里。

“I have a lot of faith in the professionals that are working here and in the U.S. in general. I think considering what he’s done in the past, in places outside the U.S. as far as being in custody, I feel that much more safe and confident that they’ll be able to see his sentence through.”

“大體上，我對美國、對這里監(jiān)獄的安全級別還有比較信任的?？紤]到古茲曼過去犯下的罪行，在美國之外以及關(guān)押在美國之中，我感到很安全，并且有自信能夠看到他被判刑。”

I’m Bryan Lynn.